Apple Watch Series 2

September 08, 2016

The second generation smartwatch is unsurprisingly called the Apple Watch Series 2. The device is very similar to its predecessor: it's got a square, customizable watch-face mostly for telling the time and displaying notifications; a single-day battery life; and a funky watch dial Apple calls the digital crown for scrolling and zooming. The biggest changes, however, are a new water-resistant shell, which makes the watch swim-proof and the addition of a GPS chip.

Apple Watch Series 2 Models

The Apple Watch Series 2 now has a range of models. In addition to the stainless steel and aluminium builds, there’s now a new white ceramic build. Apple has replace the 24K gold plated version with a white-colored ceramic model for luxury customers who want to drop thousands on the smartwatch.

Apple has announced a new Hermès range for the Series 2 with new bands: Single Tour, Double Tour, Single Tour Deployment Buckle and Double Buckle Cuff.

Apple has also partnered with Nike to introduce the Apple Watch Nike+ model which “pairs with four exclusive Nike Sport Band color combinations including Black/Volt, Black/Cool Gray, Flat Silver/White and Flat Silver/Volt.”

New S2 Processor

As expected, the Apple Watch Series 2 packs a Dual-Core S2 processor which makes it 50% faster then its older sibling. The new GPU brings 2 times the performance of the first-gen Apple Watch as well.

WatchOS 3 Software

The Apple Watch Series 2 will instantly benefit from all of the improvements brought about with the release of WatchOS 3. With efficient and instant app loading, new watch faces and experiences on offer, this new Apple Watch has it all.

GPS

Anyone purchasing the Apple Watch Series 2 will get a smartwatch with an integrated GPS chip for activity and location tracking independently of a connected iPhone or iOS device. The watch also stores GPS data locally so that you can get started with your run or workout session almost instantaneously without having to worry about getting a GPS lock.

So while the new Apple Watch can tell you where to go when you're out for a run, it cannot receive app notifications, make calls, or send texts.

Fully Waterproof

It seems that the world is fixated on making mobile devices waterproof, and Apple has duly obliged with the Apple Watch Series 2. The watch is now good for wearing while swimming, diving into the pool from a height, and can stand a depth of 50m. Apple has also redesigned the speaker here, which can work to pump out the water collected into that space.

Battery

Battery life is always a concern with any mobile device, be it a smartphone or a smartwatch. Apple might not be anywhere near solving battery issues and having that elusive everlasting device yet, but when operating in conjunction with a more efficient watchOS 3, it should give a noticeable improvement in uptime.